The West Memphis Three were released in August 2011, after serving
18 years in prison. Falsely accused of a horrendous crime, they are back
in society after their lives were placed on hold--alienated and confined
behind bars. In an act of solidarity, Damien Echols (death-row inmate),
Jason Baldwin; and Jessie Misskelley Jr.--know as The West Memphis
Three--stood before a full courtroom in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and entered
an Alfred plea, a legal maneuver that allowed the men to "plead
guilty to lesser charges, while asserting their innocence and getting
released for time served. The freeing of Mr. Echols, 36, was the
highest-profile release of a death row inmate in recent memory. Mr.
Baldwin, 34, and Mr. Misskelley, 36, had been serving life
sentences" (NPR News). In 1994, The West Memphis Three were
convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts--Steve Branch,
Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore--and dumping their bodies in an
Arkansas ditch" (CBS News).

The West Memphis Three continue to maintain their innocence. Echols
told the judge "I am innocent of these charges but I am entering an
Alfred plea ... this plea is in my best interest" (CBS News).

The young victims were found brutally mutilated, and in 1993 there
was a "nationwide concern about satanic cult activity, especially
among teenagers, (which) led investigators from the West Memphis Police
Department to focus on Mr. Echols, a troubled yet gifted 18-year-old who
wore all black, listened to heavy metal music and considered himself a
Wiccan" (Robertson). Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, and
eventually confessed and implicated Baldwin and Echols. The three were
convicted primarily from the confession, despite the fact that
Misskelley later recanted.

The case was elevated to a national level after a series of
documentaries aired on HBO shortly after the convictions. Producer Joe
Berlinger commented on the initial intention of the films:
"Frankly, we went down (to Arkansas) thinking we were making a film
about guilty teenagers ... The press reports coming out of West Memphis,
Ark., were as if this was an open-and-shut case" (NPR News).
However, after the first documentary was released in 1996, it
"raised doubts about the legitimacy of the evidence used to convict
the three men" (NPR News).

While some believed Echols was rightfully convicted, a public
movement formed to free the men, believing they were singled out for
being "outsider(s) in a small town ... Even some of the
victim's families began to doubt the men's guilt. John Mark
Byers, the father of Chris Byers (stated) 'To see them get out and
have a normal life is a blessing from God'" (Robertson).

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

There are always two sides to a story, and still there are those
who believe the releases are unjust. At the time of conviction, there
was little to suggest the possibility of another assailant. "Police
had few leads until receiving a tip that Echols had been seen
mud-covered the night the boys disappeared. The big break came when
Misskelley unexpectedly confessed and implicated Baldwin and Echols in
the killings. Defense attorneys claim police took advantage of his low
IQ" (CBS News).

Prosecuting attorney, Scott Ellington stated, "We don't
think there is anybody else ... I believe that with all the
circumstances that were facing the state in this case, this resolution
is one that is palatable and I think that after a period of time it will
be acceptable to the public as the right thing. Lawyers for the men said
they would continue to pursue full exoneration" (Robertson).
"Echols and Baldwin hugged after Echols thanked him for taking the
plea mostly for him even though he wanted to continue fighting for his
innocence" (CBS News). During an interview Echols stated,
"It's not perfect, not perfect by any means," Echols
hopes to uncover evidence confirming the men's innocence.

REFERENCES

NPR News. Freedom not 'paradise' for West Memphis Three.
Retrieved January 18, 2012, from
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/18/145405656/freedom-not-paradise-for-west-memphis- three.